FILM FEATURE: STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS (12A)

After notching more than £100million and $800million to become the biggest film of all-time at the UK and US box-offices – beating Skyfall and Avatar respectively – and garnering more than $1.75billion so far to currently sit as the third biggest film ever, the juggernaut phenomenon that is The Force Awakens hit Spalding’s South Holland Centre for a week of 2D and 3D engagements from tomorrow (Friday).

We never thought it would happen after George Lucas supposedly closed the six-part saga in 2005, but now the biggest movie franchise of all-time continues – and it has already had a glowing four-star review from these very pages.

Set around thirty years after the events of Return of the Jedi, Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Leia (Carrie Fisher) and their allies face a new threat from the evil lightsaber-wielding Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and his army of re-tooled Stormtroopers.

Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega), Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) and new robot BB-8 play important roles in the seventh movie in the series, with other old favourites such as Chewbecca, R2-D2, C-3PO, and of course Mark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker returning.

With JJ Abrams at the helm this has taken the acclaimed series spectacularly into a new generation – with spin-off Rogue One and the eighth instalment due out within the next 18 months – and provides an impressive high-octane sci-fi thrill-ride that supremely meshes exciting new characters with the old guard, and throws in some terrifically nostalgic nods too.

If you haven’t seen it yet you really need to feel the force – as it has been well and truly reawakened.